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Each quarter — UVA Health recognizes Uteam Members of the Month for their outstanding service and their commitment to our ASPIRE values:

• Accountability
• Stewardship
• Professionalism
• Integrity
• Respect
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Congratulations to honorees announced this summer during the Uteam Member of the Month Quarterly Breakfast in the Education Resource Center:

Alanna Baker, MSSW, LCSW, Addiction Counselor, Department of Psychiatry
Uteam Member of the Month: February 2024
Nominated by: Tamika Braveheart
"If there is a grant to support our work, my dear colleague and friend is on it! Take for example, her work to secure funding for an outpatient support group for adolescent substance users. This funding will allow us to maintain team members for various projects but will also expand our reach in a cost-effective manner. The sky is never the limit for Alanna. We are truly lucky to be in her fireball of an orbit!"

Judy Casella, Director, Delegated Credentialing and Enrollment
Uteam Member of the Month: March 2024
Nominated by: Regina Austin
"When we are short of team members, she takes on extra work to keep the office moving forward. Judy takes initiative to streamline processes for improvement. She makes it a priority that everyone on the team gets an opportunity to speak on any concerns. Judy’s professional objectives are to continue to build high performing teams. She is a creative thinker, always building meaningful relationships with our clients. Her team members face challenges every day. I am honored to share with you how Judy makes a big impact as director of our team.” 

Bianca Bonilla, Patient Care Technician, Inpatient Services
Uteam Member of the Month: March 2024
Nominated by: Brianna Russell
“You know it's going to be a good night when Bianca is working! I believe she displays most of our ASPIRE values. Bianca is so approachable to team members and patients. She quickly has become competent in her care of newborns, new parents, and our pregnant patients. Bianca is an amazing asset to our unit and to UVA Health. I hope she knows how much we appreciate her!"

Mia Ward, CPC, CPB, Coding Quality Specialist, Orthopedic Surgery
Uteam Member of the Month: March 2024
Nominated by: Dawn Crow, RHIT, CPC, CPPM

"Mia is an exemplary member of the UVA Health Orthopedics Coding and Billing team. She's responsible for coding and compliance of eight providers, spanning multiple divisions in Orthopedics. She has been instrumental in developing provider education and tirelessly has worked to develop documentation templates in order to meet the rigorous coverage criteria requirements, resulting in increased reimbursement to providers and University Medical Center."

"Mia also functions as the point-of-contact for the Division of Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O). Mia has worked intensely to develop relationships with providers and team members of this division ensuring successful billing, compliance to regulations, and acting as an administrative support for audits and appeals. Mia provides training sessions addressing denial patterns, and attends managerial-level meetings within P&O, advising and advocating for correct billing practices. She's provided education on P&Obilling requirements to three coders, and functions as the lead for P&O concerns. 

"Mia is a very skilled coder and wonderful resource for our physicians and P&O. She maintains her knowledge of carrier coverage guidelines, including Medicare, which often is the most complex carrier that P&O deals with daily.  She reviews documentation and advises on what is needed from both the prescribing clinician and the P&O practitioner to ensure reimbursement. Since our coding staff is team-focused and cross-trained, Mia has trained her co-workers to become proficient in Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) coding for P&O, too, as well as to serve as a resource to all the providers she supports.

"I think what is most notable is Mia’s empathy for our patients — without ever having met them!"

Amy Lewis, RN, Radiology
Uteam Member of the Month: April 2024
Nominated by: Vickie Taylor

"Amy left work and was riding the blue bus to her car. Along the route, the bus driver stopped suddenly and said, "Oh my goodness, [a woman] was hit by a car!" Amy, along with a certified medical assistant (CMA) from a UVA Health clinic, immediately got off the bus to go assess the accident victim who was lying in the road, unconscious and bleeding from a head wound."

"Amy stabilized her neck, followed the instructions of the 911 operator to remove the victims' backpack, and completed an assessment. She remained with the victim until emergency crew members arrived on scene and assumed care. As the medical crew arrived, the victim was waking up and asking what had happened."

Stacy Hite, PT, DPT, MS, CHT, Outpatient Physical Therapy
Uteam Member of the Month: April 2024
Nominated by: Tim Kibler

"Stacy meets and exceeds all standards of our ASPIRE values. She is a good example to everyone on the therapy team. Stacy's stewardship for UVA Health and the hand therapy profession particularly stands out! She coordinated with hand surgeons and created therapy protocols for the UVA Health Hand Center to help facilitate best patient care and optimize outcomes. In addition, Stacy hosted an orthosis fabrication course for healthcare professionals at the UVA Health Orthopedic Center. Stacy's making an impact on UVA Health and other healthcare professionals. "

Cierra Hill, Intermediate Administrative Assistant, Department of Pediatrics 
Uteam Member of the Month: May 2024
Nominated by: Jessica Copeland

"Cierra seamlessly integrated into our department just six months ago, yet her impact feels timeless due to her remarkable involvement and dedication. During a crucial transition period, she assumed the support role for the chair of the Department of Pediatrics amid leadership changes, navigating with unwavering determination and positivity. Her efforts ensured a smooth transition for the outgoing chair and a seamless commencement for the new one.

"Cierra embodies our core ASPIRE values, particularly accountability and professionalism. She exemplifies accountability by consistently taking initiative on new projects and addressing challenges proactively, often without prompt. A testament to her initiative is her spontaneous initiative to reorganize our mailroom and breakroom, enhancing functionality and aesthetics for the entire team. Furthermore, Cierra's commitment to follow through, and problem solving, contributes significantly to our ongoing quest for improvement.

"Her adept communication skills underscore her professionalism, while her innate positivity, kindness, and readiness to assist colleagues make her a reliable resource within our team. Always eager to lend a hand, Cierra's cheerful disposition and willingness to help make her a delight to collaborate with. I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside her, and I wholeheartedly believe she is a deserving candidate for recognition as Uteam Member of the Month. "

Casey Moler, Physical Therapist, Outpatient Fontaine Orthopedics
Uteam Member of the Month: May 2024
Nominated by: Michael McMurray

"Casey exemplifies each of the ASPIRE values of UVA Health every day, especially professionalism and stewardship.

"Recently, a patient sought me out in my office to tell me personally about her healthcare journey and how extraordinary the care by Casey was, not only her skills as a physical therapist (PT), but also her empathy, caring, and holistic approach to care. In the patient's words:

'I came to the UVA Health Physical Therapy Clinic after foot surgery. My PT has been, and is, Casey Moler, who not only helped me work through the post-op recovery process for my foot, but also noted that I had a knee problem, which was hindering my foot recovery. In due course, she examined and assessed my knee issues and history documenting everything for the knee specialist who treats me at UVA Health. Casey is not only very knowledgeable, focused, and supportive but personable and empathetic as well. To say the least, she is an exemplary PT professional. Her clinical expertise has placed me well along the journey to becoming healthier and stronger. Kudos to UVA Health for having Casey on the Orthopedic Center Therapy Services Team!'

"This is just one example of how Casey demonstrates professionalism each day and with each patient!

"Casey also consistently exemplifies the ASPIRE value of stewardship. She is spearheading a collaborative effort with the Kinesiology Department to develop an ACL rehabilitation program for patients after PT while also being vital in a post-op ACL testing protocol program in collaboration with the UVA Health Orthopedic Department. The patient and physician feedback about the program, the results and working with Casey has been consistently positive. Without Casey, these programs would not be sustainable or successful!”

Caitlin Castillo, RN, Infusion Center 
Uteam Member of the Month: May 2024
Nominated by: Adrienne Banavage
"Caitlin has developed into such a great oncology nurse. One example of how much she is cherished by patients: her patient was getting a first time Taxol and had a severe allergic reaction. Caitlin was able to quickly stop the medication, call for help, and give the needed medications that kept this patient alive. Caitlin, the entire time, kept things under control. She took excellent care of this patient reporting off to Medic 5 to bring the patient safely to the emergency room.

"Caitlin is also in charge of our hazardous medication education. She has been a resource for everyone. Between Caitlin's excellent patient care and team player attitude, I believe she deserves Uteam Member of the Month!"